[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[April 20, 1998]
[Pages 592-593]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]
Letter to Congressional Leaders on Proposed Education Legislation
April 20, 1998
Dear Mr. Leader:
As you consider H.R. 2646 this week, you will have the opportunity
to vote for the first time on a version of my proposal to help build and
modernize more than 5,000 schools across America. I am writing to ask
for your support in this important effort and for your opposition to the
expanded Education IRAs in the bill.
Never before have the education infrastructure needs of the Nation
been so great. In order to accommodate record enrollments, move to
smaller class sizes, repair aging buildings, take advantage of new
technologies, and better educate children with disabilities, States and
localities are faced with unprecedented construction and renovation
needs. The Federal Government helps build roads, bridges, and other
infrastructure projects, but none of that will matter much if we let the
education infrastructure come
[[Page 593]]
crumbling down on our children. We must be part of the solution.
I understand that Senator Moseley-Braun will offer an amendment that would replace the IRA
provisions with a proposal to allow communities to issue nearly $22
billion in bonds for modernizing public schools. Because bond purchasers
would receive interest payments through a Federal tax credit,
communities' costs would be reduced by one-third or more. A vote for the
amendment is a vote for safer, state-of-the-art schools that will open
doors to the future for our children.
The IRA provisions, which provide tax benefits for elementary and
secondary education expenses, are both bad education policy and bad tax
policy. Instead of targeting limited Federal resources to build stronger
public schools, this proposal would divert needed resources from public
schools. In addition, the expanded IRAs provide little financial
assistance to average families, disproportionately benefiting the
highest-income taxpayers. For these reasons, and because of other
potential amendments that may be adopted, I would veto this bill.
Our children deserve schools they can be proud of. I urge you to
help our schools provide a learning environment that will prepare our
children for the challenges of tomorrow by supporting the Moseley-Braun
amendment, and opposing the expanded Education IRAs.
Sincerely,
William J. Clinton
Note: Identical letters were sent to Trent Lott, majority leader, and
Thomas A. Daschle, minority leader, United States Senate. An original
was not available for verification of the content of this letter.